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The experienced tactician has given reasons why Kenyan sprinters would benefit from switching their train base from Nairobi to Kisumu or the coastal region.
Kenya’s sprint coach Stephen Mwaniki wants the country’s sprinters to shift their training base to Kisumu or the coastal region to boost their performances at international competitions.
Mwaniki feels the country needs a change of strategy in the way sprinters prepare for competitions and should start with shifting base to the sea level to put them in optimal condition to challenge their rivals.
“The sprinters need to train at the sea level, we need the stakeholders to make a decision whether it is a stadium or tartan track in Malindi, Mombasa or Kisumu where we can be taking our sprinters to do training at the sea level,” Mwaniki told Pulse Sports.
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09:50 - 09.10.2024
Veteran sprints coach explains why Ferdinand Omanyala struggles at major championships
Veteran sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki has shed light on what could be affecting Ferdinand Omanyala’s performances when he gets to World Championships and Olympics.
“Sea level has an advantage for the sprinters because when they train in Nairobi, it is kind of not giving them what they require. Sea level has a lot of oxygen so the athletes when they are doing the hard work, they recover easily.
“Middle and long distance runners need to train at the high altitude where there is less oxygen which forces their lungs to work hard so that the time they go to the sea level with more oxygen, they do very well, but not sprinters.”
The tactician used the example of Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala who clocked a season’s best 9.79 in Nairobi in June after preparing at the sea level and he feels this could be a routine if he was doing the same back home.
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14:05 - 09.10.2024
Athletics coach provides solution to Kenya’s struggles in short-distance races
Kenya has been advised to invest in proper facilities and ensure there is consistent exposure for sprinters if they are to produce impressive results.
“Before Omanyala came and ran 9.79, he was doing his business in Jamaica after Bahamas and stayed in America for some time. So, when he came to Nairobi a week later, is when he ran that time so you can see the sea level is important. That is why NOC-K took our sprinters to Miramas in France before the Olympics,” he added.
Of the two regions he is proposing, Mwaniki believes Kisumu would be ideal not just because of the advantage of the sea level but also due to the fact that Kenya’s best sprinters come from areas within.
“I would advocate for Kisumu because those are the catchment areas since the best sprinters in Kenya come from Nyanza, Western and Kisii,” said Mwaniki.
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06:45 - 09.10.2024
‘The future is not promising’ – Julius Yego slams lack of support as he reveals two reasons for his struggles in 2024
Former world javelin champion Julius Yego is saddened by the lack of support for non-track athletes in Kenya and feels the country will struggle in field events once he retires.
“So, if we have a good track in Kisumu, then we will be able to get all these talented athletes in those regions to train very well at sea level. They can train in Kisumu and compete in Nairobi to get their qualifying time.”
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